ABSTRACT
The Wiener Akademische Wagner-Verein was founded in 1872 to perform the works of Richard Wagner, Hugo Wolf and Anton Bruckner. Soon after its foundation a group of young pupils and friends of Bruckner joined forces to promote his works. Bruckner and the Wiener Akademische Wagner-Verein form an important chapter both in the reception of Bruckner's works in Vienna and in the composer's life: in the Verein he was understood, honoured, revered and admired. Works by Bruckner such as the Te Deum, motets, the String Quartet and the String Quintet were performed by the Wagner-Verein; but in this article attention will be focused principally on the symphonies. In 1892 there were two performances of movements from the Eighth Symphony in the weekly meetings of the Wagner-Verein. After Bruckner's death his friends and students, especially Ferdinand Lowe, continued to perform the piano scores of his symphonies.
